Michelle and Mandi on 'Outlander': Lallybroch
Mandi: Welcome to Lallybroch, Jamie's childhood home, the place where his sister still resides, the place Jamie has been away from for four long years. Also the place where Captain Jack Randall whipped Jamie within an inch of his life. Maybe not such a nice homecoming after all.
Jamie and Claire arrive at Lallybroch, and Jamie can't help but remember Randall and the devastation he caused last time Jamie was here. Jamie immediately fears his sister Jenny has birthed Randall's son, and Jamie will not be having that in his presence. We soon learn two things: One, his sister is properly married and her children are not Randall's. And two, Jenny has a mouth on her that can rival Claire's! I instantly fell in love with her and her high-spirited attitude. Again, excellent casting and acting — this show continues to impress me.
Jenny and Claire don't take too kindly to each other at first. Jenny calls her a trollop and Claire butts in between Jamie and Jenny business. Pretty standard sister-in-law behavior if I do say so myself! (Although I don't think I've ever called one of my sisters-in-law a trollop. Give it time, though.) Claire once again is reminded by Jamie that she must obey him in public, but he gives her free reign to let go once behind closed doors (and, boy, does she later in the episode!).
We are also treated to a lengthy flashback in this episode. Back to the wretched day Randall whipped Jamie unconscious, and dragged Jenny into the house. Jamie never knew what went down between Randall and Jenny, and boy, what a hard scene to watch. Randall is truly a disgusting villain — I had chills as Jenny sat there and laughed at his manhood, terrified of what Randall would do to her. He is so creepy! And we aren't done with him yet.
It's not all depressing Randall scenes, though. Jamie waltzes in as laird, without taking his time to listen to his sister, who has been running the place for the past four years. He must learn his place and what it really takes to be a proper laird. In an amusing scene, he gets super drunk and talks about elephants with Claire. We also get another booty shot! Thanks, Jamie and your fine, fine booty. And there is a super sweet romantic scene between Claire and Jamie — a quiet moment of reflection and cuddling. Their on-screen chemistry is just the best.
But it can't be all giggles and naked bottoms. We end with a gun held to Jamie's head. Does this man ever catch a break?? Until next time.
Michelle: Diana Gabaldon, with the power of her pen/prose, has us talking about the women in Outlander. Each woman is a product and, at times, a prisoner of her time and gender boundaries. Yet, each is a strong model of these nuanced roles that women bear from the young Laoghaire to the matronly Mrs. Fitzgibbons. In between the two extremes in age, of course, there is Claire and Geillis, and now can be added Jenny (Jamie's sister).
When these roles are violated or shifted off-kilter, these women come out swinging. Jenny won't let Jamie's guilt and condemnation strip away her dignity the way Jack Randall stripped her bare in the yard. It takes some compromising on both sides for them to be able to hear and forgive each other.
Women didn't necessarily have the law on their side, as we saw with Geillis and Claire's witch trial. They had to use their wit, and in the rare case, they used brute strength to fight for survival and independence. With Jamie's disappearance for four years and her father's death, Jenny played the role of master (not the female version) of Lallybroch. Now with a cold greeting from Jamie and having to relive the assault, she has to instill in him and Claire what she's made of, beyond the laird's sister.
We see Claire's transformation from a nurse in World War II to mistress of a Scottish home. Everything she has learned is tested, from running a household to winning over her sister-in-law's respect and friendship. The former may be a bit tougher than anything she's ever accomplished.
But danger lurks — always. Jamie's reminiscing about his young life at Lallybroch and his unique brand of leadership with his tenants are cut short with the arrival of the mercenaries. Ever present through this episode is Jamie's recollection of his meet-up with Randall. We find out the beginning of the sadistic obsession of the biggest villain in Outlander.// The groundwork for Jamie's ongoing persecution is paved with the injustice that is heaped on Jamie's back, physical and emotional. Be very careful, Jamie, danger is afoot.
Mandi Schreiner started romance review blog Smexy Books in 2009. She is obsessed with reading romance novels and collecting fictional boyfriends.
Michelle Monkou loves writing her sexy, complex heroes. Her website is michellemonkou.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook.